CircuitPython for DIY MIDI Microcontrollers
Moogfest 2019
Session 1:  11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Friday, April 26, 2019
Session 2:  2:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Friday, April 26, 2019

For years, the Arduino, programmed in C, has been the standard platform for creating DIY MIDI hardware controllers. Now, a port of MicroPython to microcontrollers allows Python programmers to create their own DIY MIDI hardware, taking advantage of newer, faster, more powerful chips that include USB MIDI as standard. In this workshop, we will use the Mu code editor and CircuitPython to program a MIDI controller. We will cover how to load libraries, access digital and analog inputs, connect to external hardware like potentiometers and switches, and implement basic note and timing controls as well as control change messaging. Participants must bring a laptop for programming, but all other materials will be provided in the workshop. Led by Elliot Inman of Musical Circuits.

This zip includes all files loaded to TrinketMO, including the main and sensor programs as well as the adafuit_midi.py file necessary to run this code with the 4-23-2019 bootloader:  Moogfest_TrinketMO_Workshop_4-26-2019 .

Link to Mu Editor

Link to DEXED FM Synth

Other Useful Links:

CircuitPython Home

Adafruit Trinket MO Tutorial

… And when the bright light that shot down into the room has disappeared and the music from the heavens grew quiet, we knew whatever it was was gone, leaving only this behind: